Crossing Borders Studio Tour 2011 Artist Martha Cutcomp

Martha Cutcomp

Nationally recognized potter Martha Cutkomp's unique style is a result of 70 years of dedication as a potter and reflects her varied interests in her surroundings, including biology, organic gardening, and raising thousands of tiny beautiful alpine flowers. Each piece is initially formed from a ball of clay on a potter's wheel, then fired to 2,300 degrees in a gas kiln.

Martha started creating pottery in 1936 in the Ceramic Engineering Department at Iowa State. She then moved to Minnesota and studied with Warren Mackenzie at the Summit Art School where he gave her much encouragement. Martha began with digging her own clay and expediting her own glaze materials from various sources. She now works in porcelain.

"From the very beginning of making pottery I always created my own designs and worked directly with the clay. One idea always leads to another," says Martha.

She now makes her home in Shelton, Washington in a small log house surrounded by huge Douglas Firs.

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